Introduction
Selecting the right LED parking lot lights is essential for creating a safe, well-lit environment that enhances visibility and reduces energy costs. These fixtures are designed to illuminate large outdoor areas, ensuring parking lots, streets, and public spaces are well-lit for both pedestrians and vehicles. When choosing the ideal LED parking lot lights, it's important to consider factors such as energy efficiency, durability, light distribution, and maintenance needs.
This guide will explain the important considerations for purchasing LED parking lot lights. Whether you're upgrading an existing system or installing new lighting, this buying guide will help you make informed decisions for evenly distributed light and optimal illumination.
LED Lights for Commercial Parking Lots
When retrofitting your organization’s parking lot lights, you have two options:
- Replace Existing Bulbs with LED Equivalents: This involves swapping out the high-pressure sodium or metal-halide bulbs with LED replacement bulbs, ensuring compatibility with the base type and physical size. In most cases, rewiring is required to bypass components like ballasts. While this option is feasible, it often results in higher labor costs and effort to extend the life of outdated lighting technology.
- Upgrade to New LED Fixtures: Replacing the entire fixture with modern LED parking lot lights offers the longest lifespan and minimal maintenance. This solution provides the most cost-effective and reliable option for long-term performance.
Variables to Consider for LED Parking Area Lights
Several factors must be considered when illuminating a parking lot. The choice of parking area light fixtures and placement can significantly impact the lighting outcome. To achieve optimal results, it's essential to understand the parking lot's specific requirements and purpose.
- How much space is there?
- How consistent do you need the light to be? Do you need different types of light on some parts of the parking lot?
- How much of the space will be used primarily by pedestrians?
- How close is the property to residential areas or other businesses?
- What existing mounting options are currently installed?
- What is the available power input?
- Do you have any video surveillance systems that would benefit from clear lighting?
- Do you want to use photocells to turn the lights on and off based on the available light levels?
- Are you looking for a specific metal-halide equivalency?
Key Considerations for Parking Lot Lighting
Lumens/Brightness
Lumens play a critical role in parking lot lighting. They are a measure of the total visible light a fixture emits, directly affecting visibility and safety. Ensuring sufficient lumen output is vital for well-lit parking areas, which helps reduce the risk of accidents and enhance security.
When upgrading, it’s essential to compare the lumen output of existing fixtures (like HID or fluorescent lights) with LED options to ensure that the new LED lights provide the same lumens or lighting levels without over- or under-lighting the space. This is also important for creating a welcoming environment for visitors, meeting local lighting regulations, and achieving desired illumination levels.
The proper lumen level can reduce the need for excess lighting, allowing for fewer fixtures to be installed. This reduces initial investment and long-term energy consumption, contributing to overall cost savings.
Comparable Wattages
When comparing HID and LED parking lot lights, understanding equivalent wattages is essential for choosing the right solution. These technologies differ in energy efficiency, and selecting fixtures based on comparable wattages ensures proper light output without over-illuminating a space. Since LED lights produce more intense illumination at lower wattages, it's important to match lumens rather than wattages when transitioning to LEDs. This approach helps optimize energy use while maintaining the desired brightness levels.
HID Parking Lot Lights (e.g., Metal Halide and High-Pressure Sodium)
HID parking lot lights, such as Metal Halide (MH) or High-Pressure Sodium (HPS), have been widely used due to their high lumen output. However, these fixtures consume substantial energy and require frequent maintenance.
Focus on the lumens (brightness) of the HID fixture being replaced. So, choose an LED fixture with a similar lumen output. LED lights typically use 60-75% less power than HID lights for the same lumen output. For example, a 1000W Metal Halide can be replaced with a 250-300W LED fixture, saving significant energy.
Common HID to LED Wattage Conversions:
- 175 Watt Metal-Halide Equivalent → 50W - 75W LED
- 250 Watt Metal-Halide Equivalent →75W - 100W LED
- 320 Watt Metal-Halide Equivalent →100W - 150W LED
- 400 Watt Metal-Halide Equivalent →150W - 200W LED
- 750 Watt Metal-Halide Equivalent →200W - 240W LED
- 1000 Watt Metal-Halide Equivalent →240W - 400W LED
- 1500 Watt Metal-Halide Equivalent →400W - 500W LED
Light Distribution Patterns
Light distribution patterns determine how illumination spreads across an area, ensuring even coverage. Correct distribution patterns prevent dark spots and overly bright areas, both of which can compromise safety by reducing visibility or causing glare for drivers and pedestrians. Proper light distribution also optimizes energy use by directing light where it's needed most, enhancing the lighting system's effectiveness and ensuring compliance with safety standards.
For commercial parking lots, the choice of light distribution pattern is essential to ensure safety, visibility, and energy efficiency. Here’s a more focused look at the most suitable distribution patterns for commercial parking lots:
Type I Distribution
- Best for: Walkways, paths, and narrow outdoor spaces.
- Pattern: A symmetrical, narrow pattern that extends equally on both sides of the fixture.
- Coverage: Typically used for lighting sidewalks, pathways, and smaller outdoor areas where the light needs to be directed in a linear fashion along the area’s length.
Type II Distribution (less common for large commercial lots)
- Best for: Small commercial parking areas or narrow lanes.
- Pattern: A narrower, elongated pattern for walkways or small parking sections.
- Coverage: It is typically used in more confined areas adjacent to larger commercial parking lots.
Type III Distribution
- Best for: Commercial parking lots with wider drive aisles or larger vehicle lanes.
- Pattern: A broader, oval-shaped pattern that extends light outward, perfect for lighting parking spaces and drive lanes from fixtures mounted along the perimeter.
- Coverage: This distribution works well for parking lots where fixtures are spaced along the edges, ensuring effective lighting for both pedestrian pathways and parked vehicles without wasting light beyond the lot.
Type IV Distribution
- Best for: Commercial parking lots that require boundary or perimeter lighting.
- Pattern: A forward-throw, semi-circular pattern ideal for placing fixtures along the edges of parking lots, projecting light toward the center of the lot.
- Coverage: Type IV distribution is effective in commercial lots where maintaining uniform lighting on the perimeter and reducing shadows around the lot's edges are priorities. It minimizes light spill beyond property lines, which is important in urban or commercial settings.
Type V Distribution
- Best for: Large, open commercial parking lots with evenly spaced light poles.
- Pattern: A circular distribution providing uniform light in all directions around the fixture.
- Coverage: Type V is the go-to pattern for lots where poles are centrally located or spaced evenly across the entire parking area. It provides consistent light levels throughout the entire commercial lot, ensuring safety and reducing dark spots
In commercial settings, selecting the right distribution pattern improves overall safety, reduces maintenance costs, and helps to avoid unnecessary energy waste. High lumen output fixtures combined with the proper distribution pattern ensure that both vehicles and pedestrians in the lot experience optimal visibility without over-illumination or glare.
The IESNA distribution range indicates the point of maximum light intensity. These ranges are calculated using the following equations:
- VS Distribution Range = <1✕H
- S Distribution Range = 1✕H to 2.25✕H
- M Distribution Range = 2.25✕H to 3.75✕H
- L Distribution Range = 3.75✕H to 6✕H
- VL Distribution Range = >6✕H
Light classification involves both distribution type and range. For instance, a 'III-M' light has a distribution type 'III' and a distribution range 'M'. The default range for most area lights is "M".
Photocells
Photocells, or light sensors, are integral to LED parking lot lights. They automatically control the lights based on ambient light levels, turning them on at dusk and off at dawn. This automation boosts energy efficiency by reducing unnecessary electricity usage during daylight hours, which in turn lowers utility costs.
Additionally, photocells extend the lifespan of LED fixtures by minimizing their operating hours, and reducing wear and tear. They also help ensure compliance with local lighting regulations, making them a practical and essential component of an efficient parking lot lighting system.
IP Rating
The Ingress Protection (IP) rating measures a fixture's resistance to dust, moisture, and other environmental factors. A higher IP rating indicates better protection against harsh outdoor conditions like rain, snow, wind, and dust, which are common in parking lots and can impact the longevity and performance of lighting fixtures.
A higher IP rating, such as IP65 or above, ensures that the fixture is better protected from these elements, reducing the likelihood of failure due to water or dust intrusion. This protection not only enhances the durability of the lighting system but also minimizes maintenance costs and downtime, ensuring that the parking lot remains well-lit and secure with consistent lighting performance over time.
EPA Ratings
The Effective Projected Area (EPA) wind rating of a light fixture indicates the wind speeds an arm-mounted fixture can withstand. To ensure the safety of parking lot users and their vehicles, it's important to ensure that the EPA wind rating meets safety standards and that the fixture is sturdy enough to endure windy conditions. This is especially important in outdoor settings like parking lots, where strong winds can affect the stability and safety of light poles.
Why EPA Ratings Matter:
- Wind Resistance: The higher a light's EPA rating, the more surface area it presents to wind, increasing the potential wind load on the pole. Poles must be able to support this load without risk of bending or collapsing.
- Structural Integrity: Ensuring that both the light fixture and the pole are rated to handle wind forces in a specific geographic area is essential for preventing structural failure.
- Safety and Durability: Properly rated fixtures can withstand strong winds, reducing the risk of fixtures breaking off or being damaged during storms.
EPA Wind Map
How to Use EPA Ratings:
- Local Wind Codes: Consider the wind speed ratings for your area, which can be found through local building codes. Areas prone to high winds, such as coastal or mountainous regions, may require lights with lower EPA ratings or reinforced poles.
- Pole Selection: Ensure the pole selected for the fixture can support the combined EPA rating of the lighting fixture and any additional components like cameras or banners.
In commercial parking lots, balancing the EPA rating with other factors like lighting distribution and wattage equivalency ensures that parking lot lights not only perform well in terms of illumination but also remain safe, secure and durable in various weather conditions.
Standards and Certifications
For LED parking lot lights, UL or ETL certification is essential to ensure safety. On the other hand, DLC certification focuses on performance and energy efficiency, making it highly desirable for commercial installations where long-term operational costs and performance are crucial. Combining these certifications ensures that your parking lot lights are not only safe but also cost-effective and reliable.
UL Listed/Certified By UL (Underwriters Laboratories)
- What it Means: UL Certification confirms that a product is tested and inspected during its manufacturing process for compliance with UL safety standards for electrical safety and meets industry standards for safe operation. This includes testing for fire hazards, shock hazards, and general electrical safety. Products that are Certified by UL meet the stringent safety requirements set by UL for consumer use.
- Importance: LED parking lot lights Certified by UL are important for safety, especially since these fixtures are often mounted at high elevations and exposed to elements like wind, rain, and extreme temperatures. It ensures that the lights can withstand such conditions without posing fire or electrical hazards. UL ensures that the product can handle these conditions safely and will not pose a risk to users or property.
DLC Certification (DesignLights Consortium)
- What it Means: DLC Premium is a higher tier of certification than the regular DLC Listed certification provided by the DesignLights Consortium. It focuses on energy efficiency and performance standards. To achieve DLC Premium status, a product must meet strict requirements for efficacy (lumens per watt), longevity, and light quality.
- Importance: DLC Listed products meet basic energy efficiency and performance standards, while DLC Premium products meet higher performance criteria, including enhanced efficacy, longevity, and controllability. Additionally, many utility companies offer rebates for installing DLC Premium fixtures, which can lower the overall cost of a lighting upgrade or new installation.
ETL Listed (Intertek)
- What it Means: Intertek, a third-party testing laboratory, provides the ETL Listed mark. Like UL, ETL Listing confirms that a product has been tested for safety and complies with North American safety standards.
- Importance: ETL Listing provides an alternative to UL certification, offering the same level of safety assurance. ETL Listed LED parking lot lights are verified to operate safely under normal and environmental conditions, ensuring compliance with electrical safety regulations.
Types of Parking Lot Lights
Shoebox Lights: Area and Flood Lights
Shoebox lights are a popular solution for parking lot lighting due to their broad light coverage and energy efficiency. Designed to distribute light evenly, they enhance visibility and safety by minimizing dark spots across large areas. "Shoebox" describes the specific design of the fixture, while "area" and "flood" indicate the method of illumination across a large area.
These lights are highly durable, featuring high IP ratings that ensure resistance to harsh outdoor conditions like rain and extreme temperatures. They also offer dimming capabilities or photocells, allowing for customizable lighting based on occupancy or time of day, further optimizing energy usage.
Shoebox lights are versatile in terms of mounting options, making them easy to install on poles at varying heights. With low EPA ratings, they are built to withstand wind loads, making them ideal for exposed parking lots. Their long lifespan and low maintenance requirements make them a cost-effective lighting solution for outdoor spaces.
Post-top Lights
Post-top lights are decorative outdoor lighting fixtures typically mounted on shorter poles ranging from 10 to 20 feet in height. They feature a 360-degree light distribution, making them ideal for evenly illuminating smaller parking lots, pathways, and pedestrian areas. These fixtures often have a more ornamental design, blending traditional or contemporary styles, which makes them popular in retail centers, parks, corporate campuses, and other spaces where both aesthetics and functional lighting are important.
Compared to other parking lot lighting options like shoebox or flood lights, post-top lights prioritize design and pedestrian-scale lighting. While shoebox lights are better suited for large-area illumination with higher poles, post-top lights are often used in spaces where a more intimate and visually appealing environment is desired.
Wall Packs
Wall packs are outdoor lighting fixtures mounted on building exteriors, providing direct illumination for adjacent areas like parking lots, walkways, and building perimeters. They offer targeted lighting that enhances visibility and security, particularly in spaces near the edges of parking lots and building entrances.
Used in conjunction with arm-mounted fixtures such as shoebox or post-top lights, wall packs serve as a cost-effective way to fill in dark spots around parking lots without the need for additional poles or wiring. For more information about available wall packs, check out our blog, “A Buyer’s Guide: How to Choose an LED Wall Pack.”
Mount Types
Choosing the appropriate mounting option is key to achieving optimal light distribution, durability, and stability. The following are our available mounting options:
Knuckle Slipfitter Mount
This mount fits over the top of a pole and allows for adjustable angling of the light fixture through a joint mechanism, making it ideal for targeted lighting. The durability of the knuckle mechanism is essential to maintain the fixture's position over time.
Arm Mount
This mount attaches directly to the side of a pole with a bracket or arm and provides stable, fixed positioning at various heights. It is versatile, suitable for different pole types, and ensures broad light distribution.
Trunnion Mount
This mount uses a bracket for horizontal pivoting, which is ideal for floodlights or heavy fixtures requiring directional adjustments. Secure fastening to a sturdy surface is necessary to handle the fixture's weight, particularly in high-wind environments.
Yoke Mount
This mount features a U-shaped bracket and allows for both horizontal and vertical adjustments, making it versatile for mounting on walls, poles, or ceilings. While flexible, it requires a robust surface and secure tightening to prevent movement over time.
Tenon Mounts
These cylindrical mounting devices fit into a pole's top opening or onto an existing pole bracket, allowing the light fixture to be positioned at various angles for optimal coverage. Tenon mounts typically support versatile mounting options like single, double, or triple fixtures to illuminate larger areas.
Proper Spacing & Amount of Lights Needed
Determining the proper spacing of parking lot lights and how many lights are needed for a commercial parking lot depends on several factors, including light uniformity, pole height, light distribution pattern, and footcandle requirements. Here's a breakdown of the key considerations:
Footcandle Levels
Footcandles (fc) measure the amount of light hitting a surface per square foot. Most commercial parking lots require an average of 1 to 3 footcandles, with higher footcandles needed for more active or higher-traffic areas. Understanding the footcandle level needed helps calculate how much light must be spread across the lot.
Pole Height
The height of the poles impacts how far the light reaches. Taller poles provide broader light coverage, but they also require more powerful fixtures. Typical pole heights for commercial parking lots range from 15 to 40 feet, with shorter poles used in smaller or lower-traffic lots and taller poles for larger, more industrial settings. For example, a 20-foot pole may provide coverage for about 40 feet around the fixture, whereas a 30-foot pole may cover up to 75 feet.
Spacing Guidelines
As a general rule of thumb, parking lot lights should be spaced about 2 to 2.5 times the height of the pole. For example, a 20-foot pole would have a spacing of about 40-50 feet between lights. This ensures overlapping coverage and reduces dark spots. However, closer spacing may be required in high-traffic or security-critical areas.
Calculating How Many Lights Are Needed
To calculate the number of lights required, follow these steps:
- Determine the total area of the parking lot.
- Define the required footcandles based on local codes or specific needs (e.g., 1-3 fc).
- Identify the wattage and lumens output of the light fixtures being used, as well as the distribution type.
- Consider pole height to calculate the coverage per light.
- Use a lighting layout tool or software to simulate light distribution across the lot and ensure uniformity, adjusting for spacing and fixture selection.
Example Calculation: For a commercial parking lot that is 100,000 square feet and requires an average of 2 footcandles:
- Determine total lumens required: Multiply area by required footcandles (100,000 sq ft × 2 fc = 200,000 lumens).
- Estimate lumens per fixture: If a single fixture provides 20,000 lumens, you would need 10 fixtures to achieve the necessary brightness.
- Calculate spacing: Based on pole height (e.g., 25 feet), place poles roughly 50-60 feet apart.
By considering these factors, you can optimize the spacing and number of lights required to illuminate a commercial parking lot evenly and effectively.
Connect with a Commercial Account Expert
It’s important to consult with our Commercial Account Experts to make the most informed decision. Our team can provide tailored solutions that meet your space's specific needs, ensuring that you choose the best lighting for your requirements.
If you have product inquiries or want to consult with one of our lighting experts, please don't hesitate to contact us. We’re here to help you achieve the perfect lighting solution for your commercial or industrial space!
